May 24, 2018

Adventuring Around Columbia This Memorial Day Weekend

With the summer months rolling in, it’s exciting to start thinking about the outdoor activities that come along with it. With Memorial Day Weekend steadily approaching, let’s brainstorm some of those great activities for you and your family to enjoy! Whether you’re looking to go bike riding, hiking, camping, or shopping, Columbia has them all within minutes from your home.

Looking for something low-key to do with the whole family? Start out your weekend with a leisurely stroll through nature at Timmerman Trail, or purchase bikes from Outspokin’ Bicycles (either from their Devine or Irmo locations), and hit the Harbison State Forest Trails. This is a great weekend to do so since Outspokin’s Irmo location is hosting a memorial weekend sale on select items and bikes Friday through Sunday. These two activities are great to try in the early morning hours before the day is at its hottest. With their beautiful scenery and clean trails, they are the perfect places to relax and destress from the previous week.

Want to feel even more tranquil? In the evening, drive over to Congaree National Park and enjoy the sights of large fireflies all blinking in unison all around you. The Visitor Center and the fireflies trail will be staffed now until May 28, and the best time to see the fireflies is from 8:30 – 9:30pm each night. This is the most visited event of the year for Congaree National Park, so come prepared for a large crowd and a mile or two walk towards the trail.

Interested in being a little more adventurous? Visit the local Mast General Store and stock up on supplies to go camping at Dreher Island, or rent kayaks, canoes, and SUPs from River Runner Outdoor Center to play with on Lake Murray or our local rivers. Since we are in such close proximity to all these great water adventures, use it to your advantage and take part in something that’s both refreshing and fun!

Feeling like venturing out on your own or trying something new? Run a race at Jailbreak 5K coming up on May 26, in Lexington. Or join the Cola Town Bike Collective, and bike from the Statehouse to Spirit Communications Park to watch the Columbia Fireflies host Greenville. The bike ride will start Saturday at 5pm and the Cola Town Bike Collective will be giving away 30 free tickets to the ball game for the first 30 riders that show up!

For those of you that love hosting parties, Memorial Day Weekend is the perfect time to host a cookout at your house. We’re confident no one would object, especially if you stop by Craft and Draft for your favorite craft beers to stock the cooler with.

Of course, don’t forget about local events that take place every week here in Columbia, like our Soda City Market on Saturdays and Brookland Brunch on Sundays. Both have a large selection of fresh produce, local food trucks and coffee shop vendors that are bound to excite your taste buds.

Take advantage of these cooler summer days before the hotter ones come streaming in. With all these different activities talked about above, you and your family or friends are bound to find something that peeks your interest, because there’s nothing better than summer in Cola!

Chesson is a Columbia native that loves to share her passion about all things local through her writing and photography. She enjoys exploring the South, one craft brewery at a time, with her husband and running local 5k races. You can spot her behind the lens of a camera, cheering on Clemson, or biking around Kiawah Island. At ByFarr, she creates social media content and works with clients to tell their stories.